Toilet bowl cleaning and disinfecting device



April 1970 J. A. RADLEY ETAL 3,504,384

TOILET BOWL CLEANING AND DISINFEGTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 14, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 1 IIII I l 'll/11111111 I April 7, 1970 J. A. RADLEY ETAL3,504,384

TOILET BOWL CLEANING AND DISINFECTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 14, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 2 i a y 12 United States Patent 3,504,384 TOILET BOWLCLEANING AND DISINFECTING DEVICE Jack Augustus Radley, William StuartFraser, and George Ernest Moss, Reading, and John Hilton Thompson,Liverpool, England, assignors to Russell Research Lim ited, London,England Filed Oct. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 403,833 Claims priority,application Great Britain, Oct. 23, 1963, 41,869/ 63 Int. Cl. E03d 9/03US. Cl. 4228 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toilet bowl cleaningand disinfecting device to be afiixed to the inside of the toiletcistern at a point intermediate the full and flushed levels of the waterin the cistern. The device has a non-porous compartment which containswater soluble cleaning medium, and that compartment has at least oneaperture through which the entrapped air can escape when the device issubmerged in the cistern, through which a quantity of water can flow toform a concentrated solution with a portion of the cleaning medium, andfrom which the concentrated solution can flow when the water level inthe cistern is lowered by flushing. Furthermore, there is a separatenonporous retaining means which contains a water-soluble disinfectantwhich may be independently exposed to the water.

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning and disinfectingtoilet bowls, urinals and the like.

The normal method of cleaning toilet bowls, urinals and the like(hereinafter referred to as lavatory bowls) is by the application of adetergent, disinfectant or the like to the bowl and/ or to liquidtrapped therein and this usually means that the detergent or, in somecases, an acidic bleaching or other cleaning medium, possibly with adisinfectant, is only applied at infrequent intervals and withuncertainty as to how long the charge will remain to act on anyaccumulated deposit on the bowl before the next flush.

Although in some cases it is possible to suspend a device containing ablock of a mixture of disinfectant and detergent in the cistern so thata combined solution is flushed each time, often the detergent anddisinfectant are incompatible and when used in the relative proportionswhich will be effective cannot effectively be mixed into onecomposition.

According to the present invention, there is provided a container forinsertion into a lavatory cistern or urinal at a fixed location betweenfull and flushed levels of wa ter therein and containing or adapted tocontain separately a soluble cleaning medium and a solution disinfectantmedium, and comprising (A) a non-porous compartment for one mediumhaving a port or ports by which a quantity of water may flow into thenon-porous compartment and on coming into contact with a surface of themedium dissolve a quantity of the medium and from which the solutionformed may flow out of the compartment and into the cistern when thewater level in the cistern is lowered as the result of a flushing actionand, (B) a separate location for the other medium such that ice inoperation a surface of the other medium will be independently exposed tothe water in the cistern.

Usually the cleaning medium, e.g. detergent is in the compartment (A),and the disinfectant medium in the location (B), which is mostconveniently formed as a nonporous compartment or a container. Theeifect of this is that the disinfectant only comes into mixture with thedilute solution of the detergent in the body of water in the cistern andis virtually isolated from the detergent medium itself and from the moreheavily charged quantity of water which has dissolved the detergent insolution and is substantially trapped in the detergent compartment. Insome cases the separate location (B) contains or is adapted to containthe other medium so that the latter will be in free contact with thewater in the cistern; in other cases, however, the other medium (usuallydisinfectant) is held in a compartment communicating with thesurrounding water via ports, and forms a relatively concentratedsolution between flushing the cistern.

The device may be formed like a cup constituting the compartment (A) andcontaining the cleaning medium, e.g. as a paste or block, and having theport or ports in its peripheral wall above the level of the cleaningmedium, and the disinfectant medium may be in a shallow cup constitutingcompartment (B) and forming a lid or closure for the compartment (A) ofthe cup and defining a space between its base and the level of thecleaning medium to which water can have access and departure by way ofthe said ports. The shallow cup may be a press, screw or other suitablefit in the open top of the container above the ports, which preferablyextend at least to the bottom of the shallow cup to prevent air beingtrapped in the space when the device is inserted into a cistern, and thedisinfectant medium may be provided in this shallow cup so that when thedevice is properly arrnaged in a cistern the surface of the disinfectantmedium will be freely exposed to the water, while a quantity of waterwill be practically isolated in the space aforesaid to dissolve thecleaning medium.

The disinfectant compositions used may be of a volatile character andshould preferably be sealed off from the atmosphere in the cup untilready to be immersed in the water in the cistern, by a removable (e.g.peelable or water soluble) plastic or other suitable disc or cover or asealed envelope, which can be printed with instructive or other indicia.

In an alternative and preferred embodiment of the invention there isprovided a non-porous cup-like container forming the compartment (A) andcontaining the cleaning medium, this compartment having the port orports in its peripheral wall above the level of the cleaning medium; anda means for holding disinfectant attached to the outside of the cup-likecontainer and forming the separate location (B) which, in operation,affords the water in the cistern access to the disinfectant.

It is especially convenient if the means for holding disinfectant is asecond non-porous cup-like container closed by the base of the firstcup-like container and forming a separate compartment (B) containing thedisinfectant medium.

Usually, of course, this second cup-like container will have a port orports in and towards the top of its periph eral wall, so positioned asto prevent air being trapped in the second container when it fills withwater.

A further port or ports may be provided towards the bottom of theperipheral wall, or in the base of the second container.

Preferably, the disinfectant contained in compartment (B) (e.g. in theform of a tablet) is enclosed in or covered with a water-soluble seal toprevent volatilization and/or decomposition of the disinfectant beforeuse.

It is especially valuable if the first cup-like container has a deepcrowned lid to increase the quantity of water to be held in contact withthe cleaning medium. In such a preferred structure, a further port orports may be provided at the top of the crowned lid to prevent air beingtrapped as water rises therein.

Where it is desired to suspend the device in the cistern, it may beprovided with a deformable strip which can be formed to a hook andclamped between the top of the cistern and its cover. Another possibleembodiment is provided with a rubber or plastic sucker on the outside,and can therefore adhere to the inside of the cistern. Again, anextendable wire (e.g. a coiled wire) can be attached to the device andwill thus compensate for the various sizes of cistern.

The detergent medium is selected so that it will only be dissolved veryslowly by the water since frequent replenishment of the material orrenewal of the device is to be avoided.

It has been found that a suitable cleaning medium is a block ofdetergent or paste of detergent which will dissolve in static water at17 C. at a rate of from 0.01 to 0.10 gram per hour from a surface areaof 2.5 square inches. It is preferred that the detergent used shouldfoam not greater than 100 mm. as determined on a Ross-Miles foam columnand that the melting point should preferably lie between 40 C. and 70 C.The detergent composition preferably incorporates a dye for indicatingpurposes. In one preferred formulation, the cleaning medium comprisesdetergent in proportions from 50 to 99%; dyestutf from to and otherwater-soluble material including organic solvents from 0 to 49% Althoughin principle any suitably compressed solid detergent may be used,especially valuable detergents are the condensation products ofpropylene glycol of molecular weight 1500-1800 and about 140 molesethylene oxide (or known as PLURONIC F. 68); 3,6-dimethyl-3,6-dihydroxy-oct-4-yne; 2,5-dimethyl-2,S-dihydroxy-hex- 3-yne; and3,6-dimethyl-3,6-dihydroxy-hex-3-yne.

We have obtained particularly good results with the followingcomposition (referred to in the example :below as Part 1):

Grams PLURONIC F. 68 flake 58.5 Disulphide blue VN150 1.5

It is of advantage for economic reasons and so that the indication ofthe dye should also serve to indicate the state of near exhaustion ofthe disinfectant that the disinfectant and the detergent be in suchrelative proportions and so respectively selected as to their dissolvingrates that they will be exhausted as far as possible at or about thesame time, or the disinfectant will outlast the detergent.

The disinfectant composition should preferably be chosen so as todissolve in static water at 17 C. at a rate of from 0.005 to 0.05 gramper hour from a surface area of 2.5 square inches, preferably at a ratenot exceeding 0.03 gram per hour.

If the embodiment where the disinfectant is packed in the lid of thedetergent container is used, it is suitable for the detergentcomposition and the disinfectant composition to be present within theratios of 2:1 to 4:1 by weight.

A suitable disinfectant serving as an efficient bacteri- Grams FICLOR 9112.0 p-Dichlorobenzene 8.0

This is referred to in the example as Part 2. p-Dichlorobenzene may bereplaced by another suitable vehicle such as a metallic gel, e.g., astearate of aluminum, zinc, or magnesium, gelled with one or morehydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, mineral oils or turpentine.

EXAMPLE We employed (in the device of FIGS. 1 and 2) an amount by weightof the disinfectant composition of 20 grams and an amount by weight ofthe detergent composition of 60 grams. The disinfectant composition wasmade to fill its cup to the brim in a dry compact form and the detergentmedium filled its compartment save for a top space under the first saidcup of about 4 cubic inches, a surface area of the disinfectant block ofabout 2 square inches and of the detergent block of about 2.25 squareinches being provided.

Tests have been carried out as to solution rates for differentdisinfectant formuations (Part 2 aforesaid). In an accelerated test,specimens were placed in running water (40 gallons per hour) for 17hours and the Weight losses were:

Formulation: Loss (grams) 50% FICLOR 0.33 60% FICLOR 0.37 67% FICLOR0.40

In a static test, each sample was immersed in one gallon of water for 15minutes. The chlorine content of the water was then determined, and wasas follows:

Formulation: Chlorine (p.p.m.) 50% FICLOR 0.25 60% FICLOR 0.35 67%FICLOR 0.6

We consider that the most favourable concentration limits for Ficlor 91should be from 57-62%.

The solution ratio as between Parts 1 and 2 was found in acceleratedtests (running water) to be about 5:1 and in real (static) use tests tobe approximately 4:1 but it is preferred that the ratio chosen besomewhat lower, e.g., 3:1 to ensure that Part 2 shall outlast Part 1.

The tests for bactericidal efficiency under normal use conditions showedthat about 99% of bacteria were killed in 0.10 second followingflushing.

The invention is hereinafter more particularly described with referenceto the accompanying drawings which diagrammatically illustrate by way ofexample two devices according to the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded vertical section of a device according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical section of an alternative embodiment of the deviceof the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the device comprises adeep non-porous cup-shaped container 1 constituting compartment (A) andcontaining the block or compact 2 of detergent material including thedye. It is about 3.2" deep and has an inside diameter of about 1.7" atthe surface of the detergent block or compact, the volume of the blockbeing about 3 cubic inches. The

peripheral wall 3 of the container is formed with diametrically oppositeslot-like ports 4. The block or compact 5 of the disinfectant materialfills a shallow nonporous cup 6 constituting compartment (B) and thiscup is a press fit in the top of the container 1 but leaves the bottomof the ports 4 open to define a space of, say, 3-5 cubic inches, betweenthe bottom of the shallow cup and the surface of the block or compact 2.The fact that the ports 4 extend at least to the bottom of the shallowcup 6 ensures that air is not trapped in the said space when the deviceis inserted into a cistern.

A flexible strip, wire or the like S (not shown in FIG. 1) is threadedthrough the ports and can be deformed in to hook form at its free endfor clamping by the cover of the cistern onto the top edge of one of thewalls of the cistern. The shallow cup may have longitudinal locatingribs 7 to co-operate with slots or grooves 7a' in the top of thecontainer 1, the length of the slots being such as to limit the extentto which the shallow cup 6 can be inserted in the top of the container1.

The disinfectant composition used in the embodiment shown is of avolatile or decomposable nature and accordingly is required to be sealedoff until such time as the device is inserted into a cistern, and thismay be done by means of a peelable plastic disc D having a finger tab dwhereby it may be gripped which is shown partly removed in FIG. 2.

The preferred device shown in FIG. 3 again comprises a deep non-porouscup-shaped container 1 constituting compartment (A) and containing ablock or compact 2 of detergent material. The peripheral wall of thecontainer 1 is formed with slots 4. The peripheral wall 3 is flanged at5 around the mouth of the container and is covered with a deep crownedlid 6 with ports 7 in the top. This lid is a press fit within the top ofcontainer 1.

A second non-porous cup-like container 8 fits on at the base ofcontainer 1. In the example shown, a simple press fit is indicated, buta screw-fit or some other positive attachment may be used.Alternatively, the two containers may be attached by an adhesive orotherwise stuck together. This container also has parts 9 in itsperipheral wall 10 and ports 9a in its base. Ports 9 are so located thatno air is trapped in the container 8 when it fills with water. Withinthis container 8 is a tablet 11 of a disinfectant composition within asachet 12 of a water-soluble film formed of polyvinyl alcoholderivatives or mixtures or compounds thereof to prevent volatilizationor decomposition of the disinfectant in storage.

The whole device may be suspended by a loop of wire 13.

This device is placed in a cistern so that within a period of time (say48 hours) the water-soluble film has dissolved, preferably within onehour.

As the cistern empties, relatively concentrated solution of detergentleaves from ports 4 followed by a solution of disinfectant from ports 9aas the water level falls still lower.

As the cistern fills up again, water enters compartment (B), dissolvingfurther disinfectant and thereafter enters compartment (A), dissolvingfurther detergent. It will be noted that the detergent and disinfectantare separate from one another so that even if they are incompatible nodrawbacks are caused.

What is claimed is:

1. A toilet bowl cleaning and disinfecting device capable of beingsuspended in the toilet cistern at a fixed location between the full andflushed levels of the water therein, and comprising a non-porouscompartment containing a water soluble cleaning medium, said compartmenthaving at least one aperture through which entrapped air may escape whensaid device is submerged in the cistern, through which a quantity ofwater flows in and forms a concentrated solution with a portion ofcleaning medium, and from which said solution flows out when the waterlevel in the cistern is lowered by flushing; and a separate non-porousretaining means containing a'water soluble disinfectant medium which isindependently exposed to the water in said cistern.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compartment is acup-like container-having said aperture in its peripheral wall above thelevel of said cleaning medium; and said retaining means is a shallow cupconstituing a closure for said cup-like container such that a space isdefined between the base of said shallow cup and the level of saidcleaning medium to which water can have access and departure solely byway of said aperture.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said aperture is in theperipheral wall above the level of the cleaning medium in saidcompartment, and said retaining means is attached to the outside of saidcompartment.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein if the two said mediums arenot exhausted at the same time, said disinfectant medium will outlastsaid cleaning medium.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said cleaning medium is adetergent which will dissolve in static water at 17 C. at a rate of from0.01 to 0.10 gram per hour from a surface area of 2.5 square inches.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deep said disinfectantmedium is such as will dissolve in static water at 17 C. at a rate offrom 0.005 to 0.05 gram per hour from a surface area of 2.5 squareinches.

7. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which said retaining means is acup-like container closed by the base of said compartment.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, in which said cuplike container alsohas at least one opening in and towards the top of its peripheral wall,so positioned as to prevent air being trapped therein when it fills withwater.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, in which at least one further openingis provided in the base of said cup-like container.

10. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which said compartment has a deepcrowned lid to increase the quantity of water to be held in contact withsaid cleaning medium.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, in which at least one furtheraperture is provided at the top of said crowned lid to prevent air frombeing trapped as water rises therein.

12. A device as claimed in claim 5, in which said detergent consistsessentially of from 50 to 99% detergent, 0 to 5% dyestulf and from 0 to49% of other watersoluble or miscible material including organicsolvents.

13. A device as claimed in claim 5-, in which said detergent is selectedfrom a group consisting essentially of the condensation product ofpropylene glycol of molecular weight 1500-180O and about moles ethyleneoxide; 3,6-dimethyl-3,6-dihydroxy-oct-4-yne; 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-dihydroxy-hex-3-yne; or 3,6-dimethyl-3,6-dihydroxyhex-3-yne.

14. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which said aperture in theperipheral wall of said cup-like container extends upwards to the levelof the base of said shallow cup to prevent air being trapped in thespace between said cup and said cleaning medium.

15. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cleaning anddisinfectant mediums are present within the ratios 2:1 to 4:1 by weight.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 429,384 6/ 1890 Manwaring 4-228730,494 6/1903 Venners 4228 2,086,937 7/1937 Harborne 4228 2,789,0784/1957 Trusler l67--30 2,807,807 10/ 1957 Harper 4228 3,093,835 6/1963Kaplan 4-228 3,121,236 2/1964 Yadro et a1. 4228 3,169,905 2/ 1965Lambert 2158 (Other references on following page) 7 UNITED STATESPATENTS Lambert 16742 Symes 167-'-33 Saulson 4-112 Kowalski 167-33Kristensen et a1. 4227 Ressler 2158 Gross et a1. 21-58 Nikawitz 21-458Davis et a1. 2158 Walker 21- -58 Finkbiner 4-228 Wilson 4-1 12 GreatBritain. Great Britain. Great Britain. Great Britain. Great Britain.Belgium.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner 10 D. B. MASSENBERG, AssistantExaminer

